CH 164

Chapter 164

When Peaceful Times Cease To Exist : To The Swamp, Part 2 — Change

Translated by KaiesV

Edited by KaiesV

「This is… oh no! Alfiris is in danger!」

「What, is it them!?」

「No, it’s a herd of Magical Beasts! Perhaps they were driven from their homes when the forest burned down.」

「Shit, at this time?」

「I will guide you. Let’s hurry!」

Lisa led the way, and the panicked Miranda and others rushed off in a hurry.

＊＊＊

Shortly before that. After leaving Miranda and the others, Alfiris had come to a riverside in the forest that Lisa had helped her find. Alfiris had walked as if nothing had happened up to that point, but when she came to the side of the river and saw that there was no danger, she collapsed into a heap.

「Guuuuuuhhh, i–it hurts……」

The Curse Mark was still writhing on her right arm, which she had hidden while riding her horse. The Curse Mark is also beginning to spread to her left arm.

「It was reckless, even if it was to get Lifeless’ attention, as I’d expect.」

In fact, Alfiris had always had the feeling that someone was somehow watching her during her travels. It was only after releasing the Curse Mark that she became convinced, but she was aware of the people who were trying to get inside the Lifeless’ ward from the outside somehow. She didn’t know how good she was, but she imagined that they were probably Miranda’s bodyguard, and she did her best to distract Lifeless with a ray of hope. It was a blessing in disguise that things worked out the way they did, but Alfiris knew that either way, there was no way to continue fighting and win.

But even for that, trying to get her to release the second Curse Mark came at a heavy price for Alfiris.

「Master told me not to release it no matter what… Guuuuhh.」

When Alfiris dipped her right arm in the water, steam welled up as if she had dipped a burnt iron into the water. But there was no sound, and strangely enough, the water was turning black from the area where Alfiris had put her arm.

Clearly, the water was becoming contaminated, but Alfiris was in agony and wasn’t concerned about that.

「Somewhat better, though. This is… bad, maybe…」

Since a few moments ago, Alfiris has been desperately trying to hold down her Curse Marks, but it never seems to subside. This was similar to the state she was in when she had previously let her magic run wild in the village where she was born. Aldreus was there then, but there is no one for her now. She have to take care of it herself.

「At least, if I could perform a ritual to seal the Curse Mark.」

「（You don’t have to…）」

「Who!?」

At that moment, there was a clear reply in the voice that Alfiris let out as if she was trying to squeeze out a breath. The voice was so dark and sweet that Alfiris involuntarily let out a loud cry, not caring about the pain in her arm.

「Who are you? Show yourself!」

「（Kusu–kusu–kusu. I don’t want to.）」

「Y–You’re a coward!」

「（I don’t know which one of us is more cowardly…）」

Voices echoed out from nowhere, as if the forest itself were laughing. Alfiris pales at the sheer eeriness of it, but that doesn’t make her any less frightened.

But as if to mock her, the voice continues.

「（You’re the one being a coward… have you forgotten about me?）」

「I told you who are you!?」

「（We used to do so many nice things. Have you forgotten that? The feeling of superiority over others, the sense of conquest that makes others crawl with power, and the sense of accomplishment when you kill that man.）」

「Ah…!」

The face of a defeated soldier whom she had killed as a child when her magic went out of control flickered in Alfiris’ mind. The man’s face was clouded with fear. But why?

「Why, after all these years?」

「（Have you forgotten? You’re so quick to forget the inconvenient things. You killed that man with a lot of bullets.）」

「No! That was an accident.」

「（No, it wasn’t an accident. You killed for fun. You cut off his left hand first, then shattered his right leg, without even bothering to make him beg for his life. Then, when he couldn’t stand up, you put several sharp blades into his back as he crawled away like a caterpillar…）」

「Stop!!」

Alfiris stood up and screamed.

「I did no such thing!!」

「（Yes, you did it! Remember!!）」

Suddenly the voice becomes stronger. Alfiris’ mind begins to recall the young girl’s precise pursuit of the man. She cut off his left arm, shattered his right leg, and drove several blades made of ice and earth, as well as knives, into his back, deliberately missing the vital points. Suddenly, when the young Alfiris looked at her face reflected in the puddle on the ground, or rather in the pool of blood that was formed by the man’s shed blood, she saw that her face was indeed smiling with a very joyful smile. Yes, just like her own face still reflected in the water——

「Eh!?」

「（Have you remembered?）」

Alfiris, who is in the water, laughs. She touched her face to check, but it was obvious that she wasn’t laughing. Yet, she is laughing at herself in the water.

「（You are by nature like that. You are eager to overpower others. You are jealous of other people’s happiness. You can’t resist the sight of blood.）」

「No, such a thing!」

However, Alfiris’ voice is gradually losing its power. If the scene she just recalled is true, what a cruel person she was. The person that Alfiris had never doubted before, the person that she is, is shaken.

「It happens. Because what did you think when you first saw Miranda? She’s such a beautiful woman, so worldly, yet socially recognized and well versed. She is a first-rate warrior, yet thin and beautiful. You weren’t jealous that you’re not like her, who is big and often made fun of? And yet, you acted like a tragic heroine just because you had to suffer a little. She’d seen hard times too… didn’t you think so at all when you heard about her past?」

「That’s not true!」

「（What about Lisa then? You heard on the trip that she even has a fiancée now. It’s not fair that she’s an orphan～ she’s so full of happiness. The little kids adore her, whereas you are all alone in the world. Abandoned by your parents and predeceased by those who picked you up. There’s no sign of you having a lover. No?）」

「That’s not true.」

「（Even Fenna is unhappy now, but if you think about it, she’s royalty. Even if you leave her alone, a prince will come for her. Everyone around her will serve her. You, a commoner, can’t do it… What is this unfortunate difference? I wonder if there is such a difference if you are born differently?）」

「That’s not…」

「（Even Nia. Just a little while ago, she was all about the battle and had nothing to do with love. She herself didn’t particularly want to be in love. And yet, before you knew it, she had a lover. And they don’t even think of you. You are so interested in love from the inside, yet you have never kissed or even held hands with anyone, let alone have a lover. You have never been kissed or even held hands, let alone had a boyfriend. It’s not like others like you. This difference is so unequal. The heavens must’ve hated you, you know.）」

「That’s… not… huh?」

Finally, Alfiris collapsed in a heap. Tears were streaming down her cheeks before she knew it. The words she just said are thoughts that Alfiris thought somewhere in her head, but relegated to a corner of her mind. Negative feelings that she tried not to think about because they’re friends, because they’re colleagues. That is what this voice has picked up on, something that even Alfiris herself had forgotten.

「…You, what the hell, who are you!?」

Alfiris screamed. It may have been more like a scream than a shout.

「Did you see my heart… my mind? There’s no way, there’s no way I would believe that!」

「（No, I thought.）」

「Then why do you know!」

When Alfiris raised her fist to punch her face as she laughed in the water, the water formed a hand and grabbed her arm.

「Hii…」

「（I am, you.）」

「That’s a lie!!」

Alfiiris’ face emerges from the black, dirty water. The face giggles and smiles, as if it is really enjoying herself.

「（That’s not a lie.）」

「You fake, you still say that!」

「（That’s quite an insinuation. The fake is not you, if anything.）」

「Eh!?」

Hearing those words, Alfiris’ body unexpectedly relaxed, but a moment later she tried to ask back what she meant. Just as she was about to ask her what she meant, she heard something step on a tree branch nearby. Reflexively, Alfiris looked in that direction and saw a long-necked, chicken-like creature with large fangs staring back at her. And not just one, but ten, or even more, were behind her.

「Magical beasts!」

「（Ufufu, you’re in a tight spot.）」

「It’s not a matter to laugh at. Get these hands off me!」

「（Okay, but… are you still holding back?）」

「What do you mean?」

The black water Alfiris caresses the cheeks of Alfiris.

「（You don’t have to hold back anymore.）」

「What does that mean?」

「（Kill them on instinct. I told you, if your life is in danger, even Aldreus can use the curse mark, didn’t he?）」

「Yes… was he? Muguh!!」

Alfieres but before she could finish her words, to her surprise, the water Alfiris kissed Alfiris on the mouth. Surprised, Alfiris had no time to resist, but before that, she was unable to move even a single muscle, as if she was trapped by a strange magic and charm.

The Magical Beasts were already approaching up close, drooling and sniffing Alfiris, and were in the process of evaluating her as prey. But as soon as the water Alfiris reverts back to just water and forms a puddle on the ground, Alfiris yields and stands up. When Magical Beasts opened their mouth wide to take a bite out of Alfiris’ head, drool fell on her hair. At that moment, Alfiris’ hair was covered with drool, and she was even more deadly than when she had invoked the Curse Mark.

「…What are you doing, I got dirty? You lowly Magical Beasts, you dare to spit on me? You deserve to die.」

Alfiris’ eyes gleamed. There was a strange glow and heat in her eyes.